Nike, Molly Moon's and other new shops to open at U Village

VANESSA H, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

By VANESSA HO, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Published 4:10 pm, Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Barnes & Noble is pictured at University Village in 2011, a few months before it closed on Dec. 31, 2011. The book store had been at the upscale Seattle mall for 16 years, until a lease agreement came to an end. The Room & Board furniture store is now in its place.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Barnes & Noble is pictured at University Village in 2011, a few...

The inside of the U Village Barnes & Noble, a favorite place for 16 years to buy books, browse through magazines and get music you could hold in your hands. The store is pictured on Oct. 6, 2011, a few months before it closed on Dec. 31, 2011.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

The inside of the U Village Barnes & Noble, a favorite place for 16...

Doing its best interpretation of the Millennium Falcon, Starbucks debuted this remodeled look at U Village in 1994. The coffee company has been at U Village since the '70s.

Photo: P-I File

Doing its best interpretation of the Millennium Falcon, Starbucks...

Starbucks remodeled its main store at U Village in 2009.

Photo: Vanessa Ho, Seattlepi.com

Starbucks remodeled its main store at U Village in 2009.

Ernst was a popular hardware store chain in Seattle, where one of its last remaining stores was in U Village. The store closed in 1997. Jack Hoag is pictured in front of the U Village store on Nov. 12, 1996, carrying a holiday wreath and feeling sad that the store was closing.

Photo: P-I File

Ernst was a popular hardware store chain in Seattle, where one of...

One of the last days at Ernst in U Village: This Jan. 23, 1997 scene pictures a customer digging through light switch covers at the University Village Ernst a few days before the store closed for good.

Photo: P-I File

One of the last days at Ernst in U Village: This Jan. 23, 1997...

This is the interior of the U Village QFC in 1996. Yes, there was a Cinnabon there, and a cozy indoor fireplace.
Photo: P-I File

This is the interior of the U Village QFC in 1996. Yes, there was a...

Ever shop at Office Depot next to U Village? That giant space used to be a roller rink called the Rolladium, which opened in 1953. Four years later, it became the Village Lanes bowling alley. Now it's home to copy paper and staples.

Photo: P-I File, -

Ever shop at Office Depot next to U Village? That giant space used...

Here's the old Honey Bee Hams restaurant at University Village.
Photo: P-I File

Here's the old Honey Bee Hams restaurant at University Village.

Long before conveyer belt sushi and kale salads, there was Mom's cafe in U Village. Here's the sign from 2003.
Photo: P-I File

Long before conveyer belt sushi and kale salads, there was Mom's...

Denise Breen, the owner of the old Mom's cafe in U Village, is pictured in January of 2003. One of the restaurant's most popular dishes was a German pancake called "pfannkuchen," developed from a recipe by Breen's great-grandmother.
Photo: P-I File

Denise Breen, the owner of the old Mom's cafe in U Village, is...

Before Barnes & Noble, and before Room & Board, there was Lamonts department store at University Village. The store began as a Rhodes department store in 1956.

Photo: P-I File, -

Before Barnes & Noble, and before Room & Board, there was Lamonts...

Lamonts' U Village sign in 1970.

Photo: P-I File, -

Lamonts' U Village sign in 1970.

Before Jamba Juice, U Village had a store called "Juice Plant." It's pictured in 1998.

Photo: P-I File

Before Jamba Juice, U Village had a store called "Juice Plant."...

Before QFC, there was the A&P grocery store at U Village, pictured in 1960.
Photo: P-I File

Before QFC, there was the A&P grocery store at U Village, pictured...

When the QFC opened at University Village in 1996, it boasted a selection of more than 100 varieties of olive oil.
Photo: P-I File

When the QFC opened at University Village in 1996, it boasted a...

The U Village QFC is planning a remodel, with a new pedestrian plaza, eating area and more parking. Here's a 2012 rendering of the project.

Photo: QFC And MulvannyG2 Architecture, Via City Of Seattle.

The U Village QFC is planning a remodel, with a new pedestrian...

Eddie Bauer used to have a home furnishing section at U Village. Photo is from 1996.

Photo: P-I File

Eddie Bauer used to have a home furnishing section at U Village....

This giant clock was installed on a 70-foot tower at U Village on June 20, 1995, near Eddie Bauer, Barnes & Noble and Gap, which had recently opened. The stores opened in what used to be the old Lamonts store.

Photo: P-I File

This giant clock was installed on a 70-foot tower at U Village on...

Those green metal chairs have been at University Village for a long time. This 1995 photo shows Amy Sherbrook filling out a job application for the Gap while sitting in the then newly remodeled plaza of University Village. (Grant Haller/seattlepi.com file)
Photo: P-I File

Those green metal chairs have been at University Village for a long...

The March 1998 caption of this photo read: "Workers place one of the top pieces of cascade granite in place at the new fountain in the Northwest Quadrant at University Village. The Plaza Fountain was designed by local landscape architect Tom Berger."
Photo: P-I File

The March 1998 caption of this photo read: "Workers place one of...

Everyone's favorite place for enormous amounts of food - The Ram - got a big remodel in 1998 in University Village. Here's the artist's rendering before the restaurant opened its new space.

Photo: P-I File

Everyone's favorite place for enormous amounts of food - The Ram -...

The Ram is pictured getting its big makeover in May of 1998.
Photo: P-I File

The Ram is pictured getting its big makeover in May of 1998.

Here's a 1998 photo of workers at Molbak getting ready for its grand opening at University Village.
Photo: P-I File

Here's a 1998 photo of workers at Molbak getting ready for its...

Barnes & Noble's death at U Village followed the closures of some beloved bookstores in Seattle, including that of Kids Books & Music (pictured), which was near U Village and closed in 2008.
Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Barnes & Noble's death at U Village followed the closures of some...

This looks like a fancy restaurant back in the day. It's Clark's Village Chef restaurant in University Village in 1960.
Photo: Seattle Municipal Archives, -

This looks like a fancy restaurant back in the day. It's Clark's...

University Village in 1996.
Photo: P-I File

University Village in 1996.

University Village in 2002, a year when the mall saw many changes.
Photo: P-I File

University Village in 2002, a year when the mall saw many changes.

Here's the Best Cellars wine store in University Village in 1999, where all the wines were priced under $10. (Pictured are Shirley Andrews and Lewis Warren).
Photo: P-I File

Here's the Best Cellars wine store in University Village in 1999,...

Wendy Watkins of Seattle, pushing shopping cart, and Gelsey Hanson, also of Seattle, and fellow Zombies invade QFC at University Village during their Zombie Walk on Oct. 29, 2006. About 150 un-dead participated in an hour-long walk.
Photo: P-I File

When nerds invaded U Village (again): This June 29, 2007 photo shows some of the 60 or so people camped outside the Apple Store in University Village waiting for the new iPhone.

Photo: P-I File

When nerds invaded U Village (again): This June 29, 2007 photo...

University Village opened on Aug. 30, 1956, with Rhodes department store as the big anchor tenant. This mid-'50s photo shows the construction of University Village before it opened. The Carnation plant can also be seen in the photo; it's the site where QFC is now.

Photo: P-I File

University Village opened on Aug. 30, 1956, with Rhodes department...

The photo on this October 1955 photo:

"This interesting aerial photograph reveals what is happening on the 10-million-dollar, 22-acre University Village shopping area of the near future at 25th Ave. N.E. and E. 45th St. The foundation for Rhodes $3-million suburban department store is being built in Area No. 1, and the University branch of the Seattle Trust and Savings Bank is getting a start in Area 2."

"Room for parking of 2,000 automobiles is being made available in Area 3 and elsewhere on the property, which will have a number of diversified business establishments. Construction at upper left is new Carnation Co. building. At lower right is the roller rink, with rounded roof, and Malmo's Nursery."

Photo: P-I File

The photo on this October 1955 photo:

"This interesting aerial...

An view of University Village on its opening day, Aug. 30, 1956.
Photo: P-I File

An view of University Village on its opening day, Aug. 30, 1956.

An Aug. 30, 1956 Rhodes department store ad for the new University Village store.
Photo: P-I File

When you need a day of jeans shopping, frozen yogurt and expensive shirts from Anthropologie, where in Seattle do you go? University Village, of course.

The popular, high-end outdoor shopping mall is about to get even more crowded, with a bunch of new stores and restaurants opening this fall. They include Molly Moon's, Nike Running, the Scotch & Soda clothes shop, and JOEY Kitchen restaraunt.

Also opening will be Din Tai Fung, whose Taiwanese dumplings prompt hordes of fans to endure long waits at the company's Bellevue restaurant. It's a good thing U Village will also expand its number of parking spaces.

Go here to see a complete list of coming businesses. Then check out the slideshow above to see how much U Village has changed over the years.